Sandhurst Town are relatively new to Berkshire derbies having only moved to the Hellenic Football League in the summer of 2016 but they’ve certainly made an impact and their Bottom Meadow ground is a good venue for a Saturday afternoon of fifth tier football.

We spoke to Fizzers first team coach Lee Pollard from the club ahead of the derby with Wokingham & Emmbrook on Saturday in the Hellenic League Division 1 East about why it will be worth making the trip to Bottom Meadow – the Sumas sit one place and one point above Sandhurst in 5th place.

Pollard said: “There’s not a great deal of distance between the two clubs and they are probably the closest Division 1 East side to us.

“They have a player who turned out for us last year in Charlie Dean (9 appearances for the Sumas this season) and last season we won away and drew at home and we’ve drawn away at Lowther Road already this season.

Sandhurst Town coach Lee Pollard.

“It’s really quite tight in the league table too, we’ve won our last five at home scoring 17 and conceding five. We’ve also only lost two home games from 11 played and won seven of those 11 overall.”

“It should be a tight one and great derby value for a fiver.”

Who to watch out for?

In Charlie Oakley, Sandhurst boast the division’s top scorer with 22 in 20 appearances for the Fizzers while Wokingham’s top goal-getter is captain Sam Lawrence with 12.

The Fizzers Adam Barnard and captain Harry Oakley are both experience midfielders while in Nick Bateman and Elliot Rushforth, the Sumas have two players with experience at higher levels.

If none of that swings it for you, Sandhurst serve their hot drinks in a proper mug. However Pollard said when asked: “Mugs are available only on request, it saves on the washing up because I have to do that too!”

Share This Post

Tom is the co-editor of FootballinBracknell. He has played at the lowest possible level of football. In real life Tom works for Trinity Mirror. Manager of Binfield Ladies in the Thames Valley Women's League.